Flower Spelling - Chapter 7
Chapter 7 – Time of the Month
From that day on, Sogetsu had spent all morning in her tenement, cooped up in her futon. It was not an illness. It was the cyclical “time of the month” situation.
In the clan residence, there were far more men than women. It’s not that inconvenient in everyday life, although it can be a bit of an issue when she’s in the vicinity of men.
On one occasion, she encountered a group of men who had stripped down to their waists at a well (apparently after swordsmanship training) and ended up feeling rather uncomfortable.
Still, the trickiest part of it is when it happens, like today.
She understood that they were concerned about her, but it’s relatively infuriating when Takasugi and Kusaka continually take turns to enter and ask if she is unwell or is it a fever, or if is there a need to call for a doctor. It would have been awkward for both of them if she had told the truth, so she attempted to downplay it, but the dull aching in her gut could not be obscured.
It’s even worse here since there are no supplies like there will be in the future and I have to sit motionlessly… There is no television either, so there is a lot of spare time.
Lying on her back under the futon, she pulled out her mobile device, the one she consistently carried with her and stared blankly down the pitch-black screen. Ever since her arrival in Edo, she had retained it powered off, fearing that if the battery were to run out, her connection to the modern world would be extinguished for all eternity.
Just then a gentle voice called out to her and Ito popped out of the doorway.
“Hey, are you okay?” Ito placed the teacup in his hand on Sogetsu’s bedside table as he said it. “I heard from Mr. Takasugi that you were ill.”
“No, uh, Mr. Ito. I only feel a little bit under the weather, not that I am ill…”
“I know what you mean. It’s not a disease, it’s the time of the month, right?”
“Huh?”
“I asked the maid in the kitchen to make a decoction for you. I thought it would make you feel a bit better.”
After thanking him and accepting the teacup, she was greeted with white steam and a refreshing aroma.
“… Delicious.”
“Is that so? Good, then. Oh, and I figured you’d be bored, so I brought you a book.”
“Oh! Is this the third volume of the Hizakurige!?”
“Yeah. I told you before that I haven’t read this volume. The bookshop was here a while ago, so I borrowed it.”
“Wow, thank you so much! I have been so bored, it makes me really happy!”
Even so…
Sogetsu gazed once more closely at Ito. This book was a wonderful example of the unobtrusive and easy-going attitude of…
“… I think I know why Mr. Ito is such a popular guy.”
Although Ito was considerably a womanizer, he was equally well-liked by women.
“Haha, you can fall in love with me, you know?”
“I was merely reassessing. But don’t people say you’re very attentive, Mr. Ito?”
“You have to be witty to be a page.”
Laughing it off, he then faced Sogetsu with a serious expression on his features.
“… When I was a kid, there was a man who took me under his wing and taught me how to study. He would wake me up before dawn in the middle of winter and force me to study, and he would beat me if I strayed for a moment. He was a rather strict man, but thanks to him, I am what I am today. It was he who introduced me to Master Shoin and Mr. Katsura. I’m a lowly foot soldier now, but one day I hope to become a samurai of high status and do something significant to influence this country.” Ito’s eyes sparkled as he spoke, and he seemed to be a distinct person from his typical goofy self.
“If it is Mr. Ito, I am sure you will be able to do it.”
When Sogetsu sincerely said this, Ito was embarrassed out of character and rubbed the bridge of his nose in a ticklish manner.
“Heh, thanks?Well, I stayed here quite a while, didn’t I? I’m going home now, so get some rest. I’ll make sure Takasugi and the others are well informed of your condition.”
“Yes, thank you very much.”
As Ito left, the whole room suddenly fell into silence.
Everyone is really concerned about the future of the world… Mr. Kusaka, Mr. Takasugi, and Mr. Ito. Only me who have nothing.
“So, what is your opinion on this?”
Takasugi’s words from previously flooded back to her.
I don’t want to be a part of the movement to expel the barbarians. But what could I do to make that happen?
For a while, Sogetsu stared at the doorway through which Ito had disappeared.